Charles Barkley: Tiger Woods changed phone number after accident

NEW YORK — NBA great Charles Barkley says Tiger Woods changed his cell phone number the day after his car accident and is not talking to some of his famous friends.

On a show that airs on Sunday on news network HLN, Barkley and filmmaker Spike Lee worry that Woods isn’t taking advantage of the invaluable advice that can only be offered by friends who are used to the spotlight.

“You should reach out to your celebrity friends when things go bad,” Barkley told The Associated Press in a phone interview on Tuesday. “They’re the only people who understand what it’s like.”

Barkley appears on “With All Due Respect” with two other Turner Sports analysts, baseball Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley and longtime NASCARdriver Kyle Petty. Lee is one of the guests in the one-hour special during which the sports stars discuss a variety of topics.

“He’s insulated,” Lee said during the taping for the show. “If Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan can’t get to him, and those are his boys, then other people are making bad moves.”

Barkley said on Tuesday he has not spoken to Woods since the Nov. 27 accident, which unleashed a series of events that resulted in him admitting to marital infidelity.

“I’ve been trying to get to him and can’t get to him,” he said. “It’s very frustrating.”

Barkley said he just wants to tell Woods, “Hey, man, we love you. If you need anything, pick up the phone.”

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